TMZ Sports - Page 50

Ice Cube isn't even a tiny bit upset his BIG3 player/coach Chauncey Billups is leaving the BIG3 for a front office job with the Cleveland Cavs ... telling TMZ Sports the league is SUPPOSED to be a pipeline back to the NBA.

Cube is in NYC where he's gearing up for opening day -- THIS WEEKEND -- and we asked which BIG3 team is the favorite to win it all.

That's when Cube brought up Chauncey ... and maybe broke some news?!

"It was the Killer 3's (led by Chauncey and Stephen Jackson) for a minute but since Chauncey took that job, it might change."

It's been reported that Chauncey's in talks with the Cavs -- but nothing has been confirmed publicly ... at least not yet.

Cube also talked Allen Iverson -- telling TMZ Sports the NBA legend has been working out like crazy and he's "ready to go."

Forget Rookie of the Year -- Cody Bellinger already has MVP chops ... so says L.A. Dodgers analyst/former Dodger Jerry Hairston.

"He is a legit MVP candidate," Hairston told TMZ Sports before Tuesday night's game at Dodger Stadium ... a 12-0 L.A. blowout that saw Bellinger slug home run #22 (his 10th in 10 games!).

Hairston knows what he's talking about -- he played in the bigs from '98 to '13 and won a World Series with the Yankees in 2009.

As for Bellinger ... he's on the most torrid HR pace for a rookie EVER ... pretty insane considering the kid started the season in the minors.

Hairston -- a third-gen MLBer -- told us he's "never seen a start to a career like this."

Even Cody's dad, a three-time World Series champ, can't believe what he's seeing.

Chicago Cubs star Addison Russell's wife is filing for divorce ... just 2 weeks after the MLB opened a domestic violence investigation against the All-Star infielder.

Melisa Russell had addressed the split on Instagram earlier this month ... hinting infidelity was the problem. Melisa's friend later commented on the post, claiming Russell had "mentally and physically" abused his wife. The league took notice and launched an investigation.

Melisa's lawyers released a statement saying she will not speak with investigators about the claims ... and hopes to find a resolution in the best interest of their 1-year-old son.

WWE legend Kane has some serious political firepower in his corner -- THE NATURE BOY!!!

Ric Flair just cut a WWE-style promotional video to support his friend Glenn Jacobs -- who's running for mayor of Knoxville County, Tennessee.

Naitch even promises to hit up a local campaign rally on July 12 -- saying, "I will be there live and in color to support my very close friend, Glenn Jacobs."

And you KNOW he ain't cutting a promo without his signature sign-off ...

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nate Diaz's former agents claim they busted their ass to negotiate a sick multi-million dollar deal for him to fight Conor McGregor at UFC 202 only to get fired a month before the fight ... and now they're suing.

The Ballengee Group filed a lawsuit in District Court in Dallas claiming they had worked with Nate since 2014 and hammered out deals on several big fights including Rafael Dos Anjos, Michael Johnson and the first McGregor fight at UFC 196.

But Ballengee claims things got icy between the two sides in July 2016 -- right after sealing the deal for Nate to fight Conor at UFC 202 in August.

Ballengee claims Nate "unexpectedly" fired them -- and never paid them their cut for the UFC 202 fight, which was reportedly the biggest UFC pay-per-view ever at the time.

According to the suit, filed by attorney Jason Friedman, Ballengee is demanding more than $1 MILLION in damages.

We reached out to Nate for comment. So far, no word back.

Prosecutors have dropped the domestic violence case against ex-Baltimore Ravens safety Matt Elam stemming from heated altercation with his GF ... officials confirm.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Elam was arrested for domestic battery and grand theft in Florida on May 22 after getting into it with his girlfriend and stealing her cell phone.

According to court records, Palm Beach prosecutors have decided NOT to move forward with the case because the alleged victim stopped cooperating and officials felt there wasn't enough evidence to get a conviction without her.

Elam dodged a huge bullet ... he was facing at least 5 years behind bars if convicted.

The guy with more money than God just met the guy with a direct line to him.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones just had a face to face with Pope Francis at the Vatican ... and even gifted his holiness with a customized "Papa Francesco" football jersey.

The jersey was signed by Jones and other NFL greats including Curtis Martin and Jim Taylor.

No word on what the two talked about. Guessing Jerry negotiated some blessings for his QB, his RB and his WR.

Sidenote: Pope's gotta be a Saints fan, right?

Keyshawn Johnson has pulled his son, Keyshawn Johnson Jr., off the Nebraska football team (at least temporarily) weeks after the WR was busted for weed in his college dorm.

Key Jr. was one of the top high school WRs in the country -- but ultimately chose Nebraska.

Earlier this month, the 19-year-old was cited for marijuana possession after university police found pot and drug paraphernalia in his dorm.

Now, Key Sr. -- who played in the NFL for 11 years -- has confirmed that his son is taking an "extended leave of absence" from the football program to "mature" for 6 months.

Keyshawn Sr. told Omaha.com the decision to pull his kid was his alone.

"I never asked him," Johnson Sr. said referencing his son.

"At the end of the day, I don’t think that decision was in his hands. He squandered that decision. He still wants to play football, and he still wants to play for Nebraska. But if you don’t do the things you’re supposed to do, under the guidelines of me, it’s not going to happen."

He added, "One thing you will not do as my son is you will not embarrass Nebraska, you will not embarrass Mike Riley and you will not embarrass this family."

Boris Becker -- who reportedly made more than $25 MILLION during his tennis career -- was declared bankrupt in a British court hearing early Wednesday morning.

If you thought Russell Westbrook's swag would drop off after becoming a parent ... THINK AGAIN!! ... 'cause the OKC Thunder star is stuntin' on every daddy out there with his diaper bag game.

Russ -- whose wife gave birth to their son back in May -- is already rockin' the couture dad gear ... sporting a $1,500 Gucci diaper bag while strolling through the streets of Paris.

Brodie's insane swag has never been in question ... now he's proving you can still be fresh while carrying around everything you need to clean your kid's ass.

Boxing star Mikey Garcia says he's gonna kick Adrien Broner's ass ... and there's nothing his BFF, Floyd Mayweather, can do about it.

Broner and Mayweather are as thick as thieves -- Broner not only refers to him as his "Big Bro" but they they've trained and lived together. Floyd's like his mentor.

Garcia and Broner are set to face off on July 29 -- and while Mikey says he LOVES the Floyd connection because it helps with promotion, TBE is helpless to save AB from the punishment he's about to receive.

Broner has other plans ... telling TMZ Sports he expects to get through the fight unscathed so he can take on Nate Diaz on the Mayweather, McGregor undercard less than a month later.

Good luck with that ...

If you're a NY Knick who's NOT from Latvia, pack your bags ... 'cause Shaq thinks it's time for you to go.

The NBA legend was at an American Express Teamed Up event in NYC on Tuesday when we asked about reports that Phil Jackson is taking calls about possibly dealing away Kristaps Porzingis.

"Keep Porzingis and trade everybody else around him," Shaq said.

"Try to build around him. This kid's got a great future."

We also asked Shaq how he felt about the Lakers most likely taking Lonzo Ball with the #2 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft (despite some back and forth trash talk with his dad, LaVar).

Shaq's all for it ... "He's a great player. He makes his teammates better."

Mason Disick is no fair-weather fan because he's still wearing Tristan Thompson's No. 13 jersey.

Kourtney Kardashian and her 8-year-old tag teamed it Tuesday in Calabasas both looking sporty.

We're guessing Mason's jersey was a gift from Aunt Khloe, who's been dating Thompson since last Summer. His aunt's bf pick clearly came with perks, including seats to Finals games.

Could be worse ... like still rooting for the Lakers during last year's 26-56 season.

A major human rights org is calling for the Basketball Hall of Fame to BOOT Dennis Rodman over his relationship with Kim Jong-un -- saying it's not right to publicly support a "murderer."

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation -- a non-profit org established by Congress in '94 -- is furious with The Worm over his recent visit to N. Korea and his ongoing relationship with the country's leader.

VOC says KJU has "blood on his hands" for the "murder" of American citizen, Otto Warmbier, and they're demanding Rodman either condemn Jong-un ... or else.

"Dennis Rodman’s complacency and coddling of Kim Jong-un romanticizes and makes light of how dangerous North Korea is to it's own people and Americans who travel there. Removing Rodman from the Hall of Fame will send a message that all Americans are united against this regime."

The VOC has started a petition on Change.org to get Dennis out of the HOF -- and exec. director Marion Smith is putting pressure on the NBA to essentially excommunicate him from the pro basketball community.

We've reached out to Rodman's camp for comment -- so far, no word back.

Kato Kaelin's not expecting to hear from O.J. Simpson after more than 22 years, when he becomes a free man, but if he gets a call ... he probably won't answer it.

The famed witness tells TMZ he thinks O.J. should go into hiding after his expected release from prison later this year.

You're looking at the most black people ever on the set of "Friends" ... courtesy of the L.A. Rams!

The Rams' rookie class hit up the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, CA on Monday for a spectacular VIP tour of the backlot ... which included Central Perk.

Serious question ... these guys are in their early 20s. Do you think any of them have ever seen a full episode of "Friends"?

Doesn't matter ... the guys had a blast anyway visiting other iconic Warner Bros. movie stuff --- including Harry Potter's broom, the Batmobile and more!

WR's Cooper Kupp and Shakeir Ryan even went behind bars in the jail cell from "Suicide Squad."

Other must-dos ... visit the Hollywood sign, survive an earthquake, go to the Walk of Fame and leave disappointed and get stuck on the 405.

Welcome to L.A.!